Taxi driver's licence in the Netherlands (chauffeurskaart): exams, steps and costs

Under the Besluit personenvervoer 2000, only someone with a valid chauffeurskaart may drive a car used for taxi transport; for certain contract services a restricted card can be enough. The full chauffeurskaart, also called the full taxipas, lets you do every kind of taxi transport.

With a restricted chauffeurskaart (beperkte chauffeurskaart), according to Kiwa Register, you may only drive regular (fixed) passengers, on fixed routes and at fixed times, and you may not carry out financial transactions (take payments) in the taxi; you can't work as a street taxi with it. For the restricted card you need the restricted taxi driver's diploma from the CBR; for the full card, the full diploma.

A learn-work track (leer-werktraject, lwt) card lets you gain practical experience for up to six months by doing contract transport, before you have a CBR taxi driver's diploma. According to Kiwa, an lwt card has the same restrictions as a restricted card, and within those six months you must obtain a CBR taxi driver's diploma to get a regular card, valid for 5 years.

The CBR states that the taxi exams are taken in Dutch (CBR page read on 22 October 2026). In its overview of exam languages (read on 24 October 2026), the CBR also lists the taxi theory exam as not available in English and not possible with an interpreter: the taxi driver must have a command of Dutch at B1 level, an intermediate level on the European language scale. You also need a valid category B driving licence (manual or automatic); the CBR page we read doesn't say whether a foreign licence counts, so ask the CBR. Ask the municipality where you want to drive whether it has extra requirements.

For the full taxi driver's diploma you must pass two exams within one year: first the theory exam, then the practical exam. With the diploma you apply for the chauffeurskaart at Kiwa Register. For that you also need a certificate of conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) and a medical certificate (geneeskundige verklaring).

The theory exam (Taxi vakbekwaamheid theorie, TVT) takes 60 minutes and has 40 questions; you pass with 32 or more correct, and the result is valid for 1 year. The practical exam takes 85 minutes, and for it you must be at least 18 and have a valid category B licence.

These amounts cover only the exams and the card. The VOG and the medical examination cost extra; we haven't listed their prices. Kiwa only handles an application once it is complete and paid.

The chauffeurskaart is normally valid for 5 years, according to Kiwa Register; the validity is printed on the card. Under the Besluit personenvervoer 2000, a card with a shorter validity can be issued in some cases, such as a learn-work track. Kiwa sends the application set by post, including the form for the medical certificate; Kiwa only accepts that original form, and the medical certificate must not be older than four months when Kiwa receives it. Within four weeks of a complete and paid application, you get a text message and e-mail to arrange delivery, and you receive the card in person.

To drive, the taxi must also be registered with the RDW (you then get a blue number plate) and have an on-board computer (BCT) or be connected to the central taxi database (CDT). You must either run your own taxi business (self-employed) or be affiliated with a taxi operator; the operator must hold a taxi operator's licence (ondernemersvergunning).